By Barry H. Hendrix
The Thomasville High School Tigers varsity football team beat Class 2A, Region 1 opponent, the J.U. Blacksher High Bulldogs, 41-0 Oct. 2 at John Sawyer Memorial Field in Uriah, Ala.
There was no scoring in the game until the second quarter. “Anytime you play somebody you’re not familiar with, there is always a period of adjustment,” said THS Head Football Coach Clint Anderson. “Defensively, I thought we had a pretty good plan, and our players did a really good job executing it.
“…Offensively, we made a couple of adjustments once we had an idea of what they were doing defensively. We were able to take advantage.”
Every week, it comes down to how the Tigers execute, he said. “We’ve got to make sure that we block the right people, the quarterback distributes the ball where it needs to go, and our backs reading the blocks and holes. That ultimately allows us to have success.
“…Christian (Draper) had a good night throwing the ball. He was very efficient in his decisions.” The pass game keeps the opposing defense honest, he said. One of the passing highlights was a third down-and-20, 90-yard play. With the Tigers running much of the night, the Blacksher defense was not ready for the play from deep in Thomasville territory.
In addition, special teams did a great job of deflecting Blacksher punts, and the Bulldogs had no chance with on-side kicks because the Tigers covered the kickoffs so well.
Tyson Davis ran 20 yards for the first THS touchdown (11:57 in the second quarter). The point-after kick by Mayder Pop was also good.
Davis added another TD, running 24 yards (7:23 in the second).
C.J. Rowden ran 4 yards for a TD (30.1 second left in the second quarter). Thomasville led 21-0.
The Tigers scored quick in the opening of the third quarter. Davis ran 26 yards for the TD (11:34 in the third). The point-after kick was no good. THS led 27-0.
Thomasville’s Paxton Kennedy recovered a Blacksher backwards pass on the Tiger 45-yard line (6:33 in the third). Four plays later, Davis ran 44 yards for the TD (4:22 in the third).
The Tigers shocked the Bulldogs with a 90-yard TD pass play from Christian Draper to Gavin Cowan (9:10 in the fourth quarter).
Eric Millsap recovered a Blacksher fumble at the Tiger 48 (9:02 in the fourth). However, four plays later the Tigers had to surrender the ball over-on-downs (6:25 in the fourth).
Both teams stalled out on drives as time ran off the clock in the final quarter.
Thomasville (6-1, 2-1 in the region) will next host another region opponent, the Clarke County High Bulldogs (5-1, 2-1 in the region), at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 12 for Homecoming at D.F. Anderson Field. (Note the change in date).
Cash or GoFan will be accepted at the gate.
Clarke County is led by Head Coach Jason Massey in his second year. “They (the Bulldogs) are well coached.” Massey’s teams have an effective offensive package, and they feature a sound defense, Anderson said. “He is good at getting the right personnel in positions…and they play really good technique.” The Bulldogs will probably be one of the most athletic teams the Tigers will play this season.
Standouts on the Clarke County team include wide receiver Jamarion Jenkins (1); quarterback Draelyn Pugh (2); and Gavin Washington (0), a three-year starter at inside linebacker. “They are talented, and we will have our hands full.”